LabCycle wins Best NHS Recycling Initiative of the Year

LabCycle and NHS Blood and Transplant (Bristol), with support from Health Innovation West of England and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, have won Best Recycling Initiative of the Year at the Excellence in Waste Management Awards 2024.

This award acknowledges the team or individual that has spearheaded an exceptional recycling initiative, significantly contributing to waste diversion and sustainability goals.

LabCycle specialises in creating a circular economy for laboratory plastic waste, specifically from biosafety level 1 and 2 labs. By recycling single-use plastics used in research and healthcare systems, they help reduce environmental impact, supporting zero-waste goals and contributing to net-zero emissions.

The collaboration involved the implementation of an onsite sorting system supported by SBRI Healthcare Net Zero funding. The team trained staff and installed recycling bins to effectively tackle plastic waste. By auditing 106 waste items, they identified 60 as recyclable, achieving 99% accuracy in sorting plastics.

Amelia James, Sustainability Lead for Health Innovation KSS, said, “We are thrilled to celebrate LabCycle’s outstanding achievement in winning Gold at the Excellence in Waste Management Awards 2024 for the NHS in England. This recognition highlights their pioneering work in sustainable waste management, a critical area for the future of healthcare. LabCycle’s dedication to reducing environmental impact while enhancing efficiency in healthcare waste management has been inspiring, and we are proud to have supported them on their sustainability and business proposition journey. Their innovative solutions not only help meet the NHS’s sustainability goals but also set new standards for responsible, eco-friendly practices in the sector. We look forward to continuing our work with LabCycle as they lead the charge in revolutionising waste management. Congratulations to the entire team for this well-deserved recognition.”

Dr Jinghui (Helen) Liang, Chief Technical Officer for LabCycle, said, “We are incredibly honoured to lead the initiative and receive the award. This recognition is a testament to our shared commitment to reducing the NHS’s carbon footprint and making a positive impact for a greener, more sustainable future. This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of our partners: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT Bristol), Health Innovation West of England, and Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex. We are impressed by the NHSBT team’s commitment to sustainability and are grateful for the support from both Health Innovation organizations on sustainability reporting and commercialization. The SBRI Healthcare Net Zero funding has also been instrumental in helping us drive sustainability in healthcare and research.”